now I'm just the early doors boozer who won't go home, and I seem to be the only one left at the party, but I wanted to plus one on the Builders references above before heading back to the fan-damly.aside from the odd - at times very odd - Builders album still lurking at home, I had a lovely wee while chatting with Mr Direen at ye olde Shakespeare. A nice bloke and no mistake. With his own teeth and everything.And I'm not certain why but I have a suspicion his stuff will endure in better health than much of other the stuff of that ilk.

that said, if anyone has a copy of this slice of made Peruvian madness, I'd be well up for sorting out some kind of rental agreement - Vampi Soul comped it a wee while ago, but I really want/ need the 7''...just love the hi-hats.

Friday 18 JanuaryTaste Merchants, DunedinMusic and launch of Percutio magazine 2013Readings and acts by contributors to Percutio 2013, followed by music by Bill Direen with Stuart Page and Mick Elborado

Great to see Mr Direen back in Chch soon, The last time I recall he was down this way was a gig at the now demolished El Porto Santo in Lyttelton, Dec 2010. Mick Elborado is always good on bass accompaniment, Stuart Page of course on drums. What always amazes me is the dexterity Bill has and the sounds he gets from playing guitar without a pick.

Well hell; it's Mayan New Year's Eve and I'm waiting for the apocalypse, which then led to thinking about my old friend Tom and how he would've been enjoying today enormously. Then Bildireen comes up...so I shall mention (because it's fated -- and I can see Tom's mouth and the cigarette smoke curling and twitching at that thought) the song he wrote called Beating Hearts about Aztecs and sacrifices.

Unfortunately, my Friday evening alcohol addled brain is unable to fathom which TV theme was inspired by this (slightly brilliant) tune... On the other-hand, It is hugely evident that said tune was (more than a little bit) inspired by "Wild Thing" by The Troggs.

I always liked Robyn Hitchcock's Mexican God:Cruel, magnificent, roasting your peopleI am secure at the end of your rodCut out my heart and it flies to the ceilingTime will destroy you like a Mexican god

...me too, from South Intermediate and sporadically thru High School and beyond - he went off to St Bedes (I think that's where he met Bill) and then he ended up at Cashmere, we met up and camped together on the hill at the the first Ngaruawahia Music festival, Tom slid down during the night... I'd run into Tom at the Gresham, and gigs, often with Bill...Every time I drive past Studholme Street I think of him and his family...

Noahpocollapse... the great arc

Mayan New Year’s Eve and I’m waiting for the apocalypse ...because it’s fated

The great cycles turn, baktun the futureone spiritual/symbolic age endsanother begins...

Some astrologers say the Age of Aquarius actually begins in 2012. That’s because they believe the star Regulus in the constellation Leo the Lion marked the ancient border between the constellations Leo and Cancer. This star moves to within 30o of the September equinox point in 2012, meaning that Regulus leaves the sign Leo to enter the sign Virgo this year. Presuming equal-sized constellations in antiguity, that places the border of the constellations Pisces and Aquarius at 150o west of Regulus, or at the March equinox point. By this reckoning, the Age of Aquarius starts in 2012. {source}

Popol reign...The cyclic nature of it all, makes me wonder about the connections ,, coincidences and holographic distribution of concepts at all levels (and that's just before breakfast!!) - the Mayan trickster ball game heroes drove their mythology, the Hero Twins must battle Seven Macaw to save mankind.Do we know where glider pilot Richie McCaw (7) is at the moment? Is he flying to the breakdown of civilisation, even as I type?

Alan Alan Alan! So excited to see that linked here! I absolutely love 'The Clapping Song'! (In fact it may have been the genesis for our household theory that all songs containing handclaps, numbers, days of the week, or spoken word interludes are awesome. Which doesn't necessarily hold up under scrutiny, but we still have a weakness for them.)